Donald Trump woke up swinging on Wednesday. A New York Times report suggested he’s slowing down in office, and he fired back with a personal attack that instantly set off headlines.
Katie Rogers, the White House correspondent who co-wrote the NYT piece about Trump’s reduced travel schedule and shorter workdays, became his main target. The article pointed out that he has fewer public events, starts his days later than in his first term, and recently appeared to nod off during an Oval Office meeting — something he denies.
Trump unloaded on Truth Social, calling the Times “a cheap rag” and labeling Rogers “a third-rate reporter who is ugly, both inside and out.” He dismissed the reporting as “purposely negative” and insisted he’s full of energy, citing a “perfect physical exam” and a “comprehensive cognitive test” he claimed to have aced.
He also boasted about a so-called “landslide” 2024 victory, economic wins, and foreign policy successes, framing the NYT piece as an attack designed to undermine him.
This flare-up comes less than two weeks after another tense moment with Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey aboard Air Force One, where Trump snapped “Quiet, piggy” when she pressed him on questions related to the Epstein files. The White House later defended his comment, saying reporters must “take” what they “give.”
Despite polls showing his approval slipping, Trump argued he's at his “highest numbers ever” and insisted criticism will only “push them higher.”
Katie Rogers did not respond publicly, and the Times stood by its reporting.
Trump’s pattern is familiar by now — an unflattering story drops, and he answers with personal insults aimed at the journalist instead of the content. This time, the blowback was immediate, and the exchange is already ricocheting across social platforms and political circles.
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